Botswana fans troll US sprinter Noah Lyles as thousands come out to celebrate their first Olympic gold medal

Botswana Fans Mock Noah Lyles as They Celebrate Letsile Tebogo’s Historic 200m Victory

In a grand homecoming celebration on Tuesday, fans in Botswana appeared to mock U.S. track star Noah Lyles while welcoming Letsile Tebogo, who recently claimed the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal with his victory in the 200m at the Paris Olympics. Tens of thousands gathered in Gaborone, the capital, to greet Tebogo, who outran Lyles, who finished third in the race.

Lyles, who had hoped to achieve a 100m-200m double, ended up in a wheelchair near the finish line. It was later revealed that Lyles was suffering from Covid-19, but this did not shield him from ridicule.

A video shared on social media showed a man dressed in Botswana’s colors, with Tebogo’s name on his back, pushing another man in a wheelchair. The person being pushed feigned unconsciousness before dramatically coming to life as fans cheered and waved Botswana flags. The man’s shirt was torn across one shoulder, mimicking Lyles’ appearance, and his bib read “Lekgowa,” a term that, according to a local professor of linguistics, can be used to describe someone who “lacks respect for other human beings.”

Following his win in Paris, Tebogo called his rival “arrogant,” stating, “I can’t be the face of athletics because I’m not an arrogant or loud person like Noah.”

As Botswana’s Olympic team returned to Gaborone, fans of all ages waved the nation’s sky blue and black flag. President Mokgweetsi Masisi declared an impromptu half-day holiday to celebrate Tebogo’s success.

At 21 years old, Tebogo became the first African to win the men’s 200m, setting a new African record with a time of 19.46 seconds as he surged past Kenny Bednarek and Lyles. His gold medal, along with a silver in the men’s 4x400m relay, increased Botswana’s total Olympic medal count to four.

The celebration continued outside the airport, where traditional dancers in animal skins and beads kicked off a welcoming ceremony, and athletes paraded through the National Stadium on a rooftop bus.